Preparing Health Professionals for Environmental Health and Climate Change: A Challenge for Europe.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Climate Change and Health
• Medical Education

Background:

• Environmental health and climate change significantly worsen disease and inequity.
• Current training for health professionals in these areas is fragmented across Europe.
• A European Medical Association (EMA) roundtable addressed this critical gap.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss and propose solutions for preparing European health professionals for environmental health and climate change challenges.
• To identify obstacles and opportunities in integrating environmental health and climate change into medical curricula.
• To foster collaboration between professional societies and European policy initiatives.

Main Methods:

• A one-day hybrid roundtable convened by the EMA, ENCHE, INPHET, and University College London.
• Keynote presentations on policy, economics, and curriculum design.
• Disease-focused roundtables (respiratory, cardiovascular, neurological) examining causes, healthcare's impact, and capacity building.

Main Results:

• Highlighted integration of environmental epidemiology, community prevention, and sustainable practices into teaching.
• Identified policy frameworks like the European Green Deal and Zero Pollution Action Plan.
• Noted persistent obstacles: lack of decarbonization commitment, unscaled innovations, and non-embedded sustainability in curricula.

Conclusions:

• Proposed developing an educational package on environmental and climate health.
• Recommended mapping and harmonizing core competencies across all training levels.
• Advocated for establishing a permanent EMA-led working group for a position paper.